The Rolling Stones Play Historic Cuba Gig

Sir Mick Jagger

The Rolling Stones played their historic free gig in Cuba last night (25.03.16).

The legendary band – consisting of Sir Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Charlie Watts – took to the stage at the Ciudad Deportiva in Havana yesterday as 500,000 fans piled in to the venue – their biggest concert to date – to watch their idols become the first Western band to play in the country since the Communist Revolution in 1959.

Sir Mick welcomed their fans in Spanish before opening the performance with the 1968 hit ‘Jumpin’ Jack Flash’

The band swept through 18 songs in the two-hour gig, including ‘Sympathy for the Devil’, before drawing the concert to a close with their two most iconic tracks ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’ and ‘Satisfaction’.

The concert marks a turning point for Cuba after the band’s music was banned in the country – including on the radio – for many years because it was believed to be subversive however fans listened to their tracks behind closed doors.

Meanwhile, the concert was initially on touch-and-go hours before the band took to the stage after Pope Francis requested for it to be halted because it fell on Good Friday.

A source said recently: “The band’s team were flabbergasted when the Vatican got in touch by letter – couldn’t believe their eyes. Much as they didn’t want to upset the Pope, they had a contract to play and were going to honour it. They have made a promise to the Cuban people and won’t let them down.”